Automatic grain-scales



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l E. N. WILLIAMSON.

AUTOMATIC GRAIN SCALE. No. 367,880. Patented Aug. 9, I887.

NVENTOR N PETERS. Pholo-Lflhogrnphur, Wuhluiom I) c.

(n6 l odel.) a 8heets-8heet 2. E. N. WILLIAMSON.

AUTOMATIC GRAIN SCALE.

No. 367,880. Patented Aug. 9, 1887.

INVENQTOR PETE s. Phuln-Lilhognphcr, wan-emu: n.c.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

E. N. WILLIAMSON.

, AUTOMATIC GRAIN SCALE.

No. 367,880. Patented Aug. 9, 1887.

4q F i g 6 u 1h 1 [1U]! ATTEET INVE R 2/ yaw UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EIAVOOD N. VILLIAMSON, OF LODGE, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC GRAIN-SCALES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 367,880, dated August 9, 1887.

' Application filed March 3, 1887. Serial No. 229,510. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELwooD N. WILLIAM- soN, of Lodge, in the county of Piatt and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Scales for \Veighing Grain, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to combine a high degree of accuracy with economy of con strnction and simplicity of operation; and I attain my object by means of the combinations, sub-combinations, details of construction, and relative arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in detail, and specifically claimed.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, Figurelshows my device in isometrieal perspective. Figs. 2 and 3 represent details in the mechanism for automatically stopping the operation of the machine at any prearranged time. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section of the hoppers, throats, grain-receptacles, and valves; and Fig. 5 is a side view of the weighted end of the scale-beam.

The grain-receptacle 1 has a central vertical partition, 55, permanently located. Above the partition is a compartment, 2, in which a stream-shifting valve, 56, operates. Above the shifting-valve is a hopper, 3, and in and above said hopper is a two-part throat, 4 and 5, the one part provided with valves58 59 and the other with valve 57. The throat is surmounted by a'hopper, 6, that receives the grain to be weighed. A pendulously-supported double valve, 7, closes the bottom of each side of the receptacle alternately. Inclined plates 9 retard the flow of the discharging grain, and plates 8 form lateral guides on the outer edges of the double valve.

The supporting-frame comprises the continuous standards 40, the rectangular frame 41, and the braces 42 43. The throat 4 5 and the hopper 6 are permanently supported by the frame. Brackets 44, one on each side, connect with the rectangular frame and provide fulernms for arms 45, that support the grainreceptacle through swinging connections 46 and rod 47, and terminate in a single scalebeam, 48, which is'weighted at 49 in any suitable manner.

The lever 10 is securely fastened at its lower 'ing end with pin 21.

end to the double valve 7, is pivoted on the receptacleat 11, is slotted to receive pin 20, and is provided at its upward outwardly-bendlivoted to the hopper of the grain-receptacle at 24 is a lock-frame, 22, which is provided at points equidistant from the vertical center of thereceptacle with recesses 23, and projecting outwardly from the said frame is weighted arm 25.

Shaft 28 of valve 59 extends outwardly through the casing and is provided at its ten mination with weighted arm 30, that has a slotted extension beyond its pivot. The shaft 27 of valve 58 also extends through the casing and has a short arm, 29, carrying a pin that engages a slot of arm 30. On the upper surface of the hopper of the receptacle is a stop bracket, 31, that holds arm 30 in its shown position while the receptacle is at its highest position. A stop, 26, attached to bar 41 impedes, beyond certain limits, the downward motion of the weighted arm of the lock-frame.

On the outer end ofshaft 1S ofshifting-valve 56 is arm 17, provided at one end with weight 19 and at the other end with pin 20, that penetrates the slot of arm 10. On the outer end of shaft 34 of valve 57 is weighted arm 33 that connects with the pin of arm 29 through rod 32, which is slotted at its lower end to receive saidpin. Abracket,12,formsapivotalbearing for arm 15, which carries weight 16, and is slotted at 14 to receive pin 13 from lever 10. A bracket, 53, forms a pivotal bearing for weighted lever 50. Arm 51 connects with the lever at the fulcrum thereof, and a slotted rod, 52, connects the arm with the scalebeam 48.

Extension 61 of hopper 6 protects shaft 34 from contact with the grain, and shafts 27 28 are protected from such contact by proj eetions 60. The bifurcate termination 62 of partition provides for the pendulous motion of valve 7.

Attached to a standard below arm 30 is a register-box, 36, and contiguous to the path of the arm 30 is a dog, 38, having an arm, 39, resting in a recess of the registenbox. A rod, 37, connects the arm 30 with an arm, 65, that bears a drive-pawl,tliat moves the mechanism. of the register one degree at each descent of the arm. The unit-wheel U is provided with a spur,-66, that moves the ten-wheel Y one degree at each revolution of the unit'wheel, and a similar eontrivance(not in sight) causes a rotation of the ten-wheel to move the hundred-wheel II one degree. On the shaft of the hundred-wheel is a loclewlieel, 63, on which arm 39 rests, and in the periphery of said wheel is a single recess, 64.

In operation the grainreceptacle 1 2 3 ascends and descends. The throat t 5, with its valves, does not descend with the receptacle. The grain is received in opposite compartments alternately. The downward motion of the receptacle is intermittent, two pauses being made before the lowest point is reached. The first pause is made when lever 33 reaches stoplJltICkCi] 35 and relieves the receptacle of its weight, which has been applied through lever to bracket 31. At this point the valves are partly closed and the grain falls slowly in a uniform stream until a quantity equal to the pressure of lever 33 is accumulated, when the lower valves of the throat are entirely closed by the further downward motion of the receptacle, which relieves the receptacle of the pressure of levers 30 and causes a pause or a tendency to pause, which is nontralized by weighted arm 50, which has by this time passed the vertical line and is as sisting the receptacle to raise the scale-beam. The lock-frame 22 moves downwardly with the receptacle until the valves have been closed in the throat, as above specified, when its motion is obstructed by step 26 and the pin 21 permitted to descend clear of the recess and unlock the lever 1.0. As soon as the pin is clear of the recess, the weight of the grain throws valve 7 to the opposite side of the receptacle, and at the same time reverses the position of the grain-shifter 56. Asthevalve? is thrown, the weighted arm 15 is carried past the vertical and utilized to compel the completion of the stroke and prevent a recoil motion. while the receptacle is reascending. The inclined plates 9 cause the grain to bear more closely against the faces of the valve 7 and to escape more or less slowly, depending on the position and angle of adjustment. The operation as described is continued until the register carries the recess of wheel 68 under arm 39, when said arm will fall, carrying do 38 over arm 30, locking the valves closed and stopping the operation of the machine by preventing the further flow of grain. The time at which the lock may be effected is determined by the adjustment of the recessed wheel with relation to the register mechanism, and the machine may be set to weigh any number of bushels.

The weight 19 holds the grain-shifter 56 at one side or the other ofthe compartment 2.

The bifurcation of the partition permits the pendulons motion of the valve 7.

The weight 50 is carried to its shown post tion at every ascent of the receptacle.

The lever 10 is held in opposite positions alternately by the ecesses in the swinging lock-frame.

The effect of the operation of valve 57 is to partially relieve the valves 58 59 from the pressure of the grain, and to permit them to be readily closed at the proper time. The bracket 35, by causing the temporary stop, permits the final filling to be made with a slow uniform flow, that may be readily considered in computing the weight, and the liability to variation is still further reduced by the streanr shifter, which catches a large quantity of the grain that is falling when the scale balances and turns it into the empty compartment.

The weighted lever connected with the scale beam accelerates the motion of said beam and insures a q nick and com plete operation thereof.

The plates 9 are vertically adjustable on the bucket, in order that the flow of the discharging grain may be more or less retarded, and the adjustment is preferably effected by means ofslots in the plates, through which the securing-screws pass.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In grain-scales, in combination, a dual receptacle supported by a scale-beam, a pendulously supported valve adapted to close the bottoms of the different compartments alternately, a locleframc near the top of the receptacle, and a lever pivoted to the receptacle, secured to the bottom valve, and adapted to engage the lock-frame when the receptacle is raised, as shown and described.

2. In grain-scales, in coml )ination, a dual receptacle supported by a scale-beam, a pendulousl y-supported valve adapted to alternately close the bottoms of the different compartments, a loclefraine hinged to the upper portion of the receptacle, a stop to limit the downward motion of the outer portion of the lockframe, and a lever pivoted to the receptacle, connected with thebottom valve, and adapted to engage the locleframe when the receptacle is raised, as set forth.

3. Ylfnf'grain-scales, in combination, a dual receptacle supported by a scale-beam, a pendnlously-supported valve adapted to alternately close the bottoms of the different compartments, a lock-frame hinged to the upper portion of the receptacle and provided in its under surface with recesses equidistant from the vertical center of the receptacle, a stop to limit the downward motion of the loek-frai'ne, and a lever pivoted to the receptacle, connected with the bottom valve, and provided with a lateral pin to engage the recesses of the lockframe, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In grain-scales, in combination, a dual receptacle supported by a scale-beam, a pendulously-supported val V0 for alternately closing the bottoms of the different compartments, a lever secured to the bottom valve,pivoted on the receptacle, and extended upward to near the top of the same, a lock-frame in position to engage the upper end of the lever, and a pendulously-pivoted stream-shi t'ter eonnccti ng with the lever, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In grain-scales, in combination, a dual.

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receptacle supported .by a scale-beam, a pendulously-supported valve for alternately closing the bottoms of the different compartments, a lever pivoted to the receptacle and secured to the valve, a lock-frame in position to engage the lever when the receptacle is raised, and a weighted trip-lever adapted to be thrown over its fulcrum by the motion of the valve and to retain the valve in contact with the receptacle while said receptacle is ascending, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In grain-scales, in combination, a receptacle having motion in a vertical line, a stationary throat over the receptacle, and a valve in the throat resting on the receptacle in such manner that as the receptacle descends the valve will close automatically.

7. In grain-scales, in combination,areceptace having motion in a vertical line, a stationary throat over the receptacle, a valve in the throat, and a weighted arm on the valve-shaft resting on the receptacle in such manner that as the receptacle descends the valve will close automatically.

8. Ingram-scales, in combinatioma receptacle having motion in a vertical line, a threat stationary over the receptacle, a double valve in the throat having its parts suitably connected, and a weighted arm resting on the receptacle and connecting with the valves in such manner that a descent of the receptacle will permit the valves to automatically and simultaneously close.

9. In grain-scales, in combination,areceptacle having motion in a vertical line, a throat stationary over the receptacle, a valve in the throat, a weighted arm on the valveshaft resting on the receptacle in such manner that a descent of the receptacle will permit the valve to close automatically, and an auxiliary valve in the upper portion of the throat, supported by the receptacle in such manner that the descent of the receptacle will permit the said auxiliary valve to operate automatically and partially close the throat, as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In grain-scales, in combination, a receptacle supported by a scale-beam and having motion in a vertical line, a throat stationary over the receptacle, a valve in the throat, a weighted arm on the valve-shaft, resting on the receptacle in such manner that a descent of the receptacle will permit the valve to close automatically and stop the flow of grain, and a weight pivoted to swing over its fulcrum and so connected with the scale-beam that at the time the flow of grain is stopped it will have been .raised past the vertical and will assist the receptacle in raising the scale-beam and completing the discharge.

11. In automatic grainscales, in combination, a dual receptacle, astream-shifterin the top of the receptacle, a swinging bottom adapted .to alternately close the opposite sides of the receptacle, a lever connecting the stream-shifter with the swinging bottom, and a weighted arm secured to the bucket, c011- nected with the swinging bottom, and adapted to swing overits fulcrum at each motion of said bottom, the entire mechanism being operated by the pressure of the grain, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I sign my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ELWOOD N. XVILLIAMSON.

Attest:

'J. G. KELLER, O. A. TATMAN. 

